Shipping crate



C. O. EWELL SHIPPING CRATE Oct. 16, 1923.

Filed Aug. 17

To all whom it mag/concern Patented a. 16, 1923. a

m'rso STATE-s ciaaatns o. :IEWELL, or was, TENNESSEE] siirrrme CRATE...

Application flied August 17, [1922. Serial 1%., 582,445.

Be it known that CHARLES O. Ewmn, a. citizen of the Unitedstatesfresiding at Dyer, in the county ofjGibson and State "of Tennessee, has invented certain hew'an'd usein] Improvements in Shipping Crates, of which. the following is a specification, reference being had'to the accompanying draw ings. i

This invention relates to'crates or hampers for the shipment of fruits and vegetables and has foritsobject the provision of a novel crate which is capable of beingshipped in knocked down condition to be subse quently set up or assembled by the user, the

advantage being that a great saving will be effected in transportation p harges.

Theimportant and more specific object is the provision of a crate of this character which consists of a plurality of panels, preferably slatted and permanently secured in proper relation by wire'or other flexible means, the panels being readily capable of being brought to shape and secured by twist- 1 more fully described and claimed and illus-' trated in the accompanying drawings I in which: I r

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in set up position;

Figure 2 is a vertical section; I

Figure 3 isa horizontal'section; I

'Figure 4 is aplan view with the cover 7 broken away; and

Figure 5 is aplan view showing 'all the panels flattened out andlying inthelsame plane. V 7

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, I have shown my crate as consisting of four similar panels 10 which might be formed solid but which'are preferably'constructed of slats 11' secured to upper and lower transverse cleats {12 and. 13, respectively, which extend entirely across the panel and which have mitered ends 14, The panels are here illustrated as being of tangular if preferred. It should be mentioned in passing that the upper cleats 12- are spaced; slightly from the wider. ends of the panels as clearly illustrated. I

All the panels .10 are 'secured to two or more flexible members such as the :wires 15,

the-securing being effected as by means of staples driven into the slats '11 preferably at the points; where the slats engage the foreach' panel and two wires provide sufiicient strength. panels might be provided with more cleats and more than two wires may be used PATENT OFF E-i i trapezoidal shape though theypcould be rec cleats] Ordinarily-two cleats'jare sufficient I If desired,- however, the

though naturally the smaller number .is

preferable as reducing the cost of produc The device further includes a rectangular bottom 17 which seats upon the lower cleats 13 when the crate is assembled and which 1s preferably reinforced transverse' cleats 18. I i

The numeral 19 represents the top or cover which is likewise rectangular. and which may be either solid or slatted and reinforced f 'by cleats 20. This top is of such size as to fit uponthe upper edges of the cleats 12 naturally within the confines of the project-j ing upper ends'of the panels.- Any. pre

ferred securing means maybe provided for j holding the top in place.

Initially, or at any time whenthe crates are shipped empty, the four panels are laidflat with "the top and bottom members 17 and 19 lying at any convenient point thereon, V I

this arrangement permitting the shipment of a large number ofcratesin a comparae tively small compact bundle) Whe n it is the ends of the wires 15 are twisted tightly together as indicated at21, after which the bottom 17 is inserted to maintain the shape.

Owing to the fact that the ends of the cleats 12 and 13 are mitered it is apparent that they will engage and exert a mutual bracing action which will further assist in {holding the shape. After the crate is thus vset'up it is, of, course, filled in the usual manner and the cover is placed in position;

.From the foregoing description and a study of the drawingsit will be apparent that I have thus provided ,a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive crate whichishighly', advantageous in use in the 9 I desired to set up a crate}.- forfuse the four panels are'swung to define the enclosureand same capacity as the ordinary round basket or hamper While having the superior feature of being capable of being shipped in knocked down form so that a large number ferred' embodiment of the invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make-such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not departifrom thejspirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: V g I A shipping crate comprising. a plurality of similar panels, each including spaced slats connected by upper and lower cleats havingmitered ends, eachpanel being narrower'at itslower end than at its upper end,

Wires securedto all or" the panels and having'their ends initially free and projecting beyond the edges of the endmost panels, said panels being arranged to define a receptacle and thefree ends of the Wires being twisted together to retain thereceptacle in shape, the 'm itered ends of the cleats respectively engaging against each other to thereby brace the receptacle, and a top and bottom disposable against said cleats, the bottom being disposed Within the receptacle and resting upon the upper faces of the lower cleats and holding the top of the crate expanded, the top restingupon the upperset of cleats, both the top and bottom having transverse cleats adapted to fit inside ofthe top and bottom cleats of the crate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. g

CHARLES o. EWELL, 

